Hermitage Cru les Bessards - 2020 - Delas Frères
Alcoholic content: 14.00 %
yr. 2017 Jeff Leve, The Wine Cellar Insider:
94 of 100 Points.
"Jeff Leve, The Wine Cellar Insider" has rated the wine "Delas Freres Hermitage Les Bessards" from the vintage 2017 on 01.10.2022 with 94 of 100 points.
"Rich, dark, deep, and smoky, the olive-infused blackberries and black cherries offer purity, as well as length and persistence. Full-bodied, concentrated, and fresh, the wine leaves you with vibrant, creamy fruit. Drink from 2024-2042."
yr. 2019 Wine Enthusiast:
95 of 100 Points.
"Wine Enthusiast" has rated the wine "Delas Freres Hermitage Les Bessards" from the vintage 2019 on 01.03.2022 with 95 of 100 points.
"Sourced from the oldest plot of Les Bessards in the heart of Hermitage, this limited-production, site-specific Syrah expresses the heat and power of the 2019 vintage with elegance. Massive in structure and richly extracted, it's packed with lip-staining blueberry and cassis flavors. A perfumed lift of violet and lingering notes of smoked tea leaves and vanilla mark the finish. Seductive already, the wine will show best from 2025 to 2040. Anna Lee C. Iijima"
yr. 2018 Wine Enthusiast:
97 of 100 Points.
"Wine Enthusiast" has rated the wine "Delas Freres Hermitage Les Bessards" from the vintage 2018 on 01.05.2021 with 97 of 100 points.
"Les Bressards is a single-vineyard selection limited to 6,000 majestic bottles in any vintage it's produced. Made from 100% Syrah, its black-cherry coulis and crème de cassis flavors are spicy, marked by hits of scorched anise and peppercorn. Anchored by zesty acidity and a bristling mineral undertow, it's a structured red wrapped in tannins that feel feel fierce now but should meld from 2023. The wine will improve well through 2035 and hold much longer still. Anna Lee C. Iijima"
yr. 2017 Wine Enthusiast:
96 of 100 Points.
"Wine Enthusiast" has rated the wine "Delas Freres Hermitage Les Bessards" from the vintage 2017 on 01.07.2020 with 96 of 100 points.
"Deep, undulating layers of cassis and mulberry are shaded by hints of cinnamon, charred meat and coffee bean in this hulking Syrah. It's a rich, plushly textured sip but gripped by a firm, penetrating frame of tannins. Stunning but a bit unwieldy in youth, it would be best cellared till 2022, but the wine will reward patience. Anna Lee C. Iijima"
yr. 2012 Falstaff:
96 of 100 Points.
"Falstaff" has rated the wine "Delas Freres Hermitage Les Bessards" from the vintage 2012 on 01.12.2019 with 96 of 100 points.
"Kräftiges Karmingranat, violette Reflexe, breite Ockerrandaufhellung. Feinwürzig-mineralisch unterlegte Cassisfrucht, Rosenblätter, Johannisbeeren, rauchige Gesteinsnuancen. Komplex, extraktsüße, reife, eingelegte Kirschen, präsente, tragende und zugleich feine Tannine, Waldbeerkonfit, salzige Nuancen im Abgang, sehr gute Länge, bereits zugänglich, ein toller Speisenbegleiter, feiner Nougat im Rückgeschmack. (2020 - 2050)?Verkostet von Peter Moser, 1/2021"
yr. 2014 Jeff Leve, The Wine Cellar Insider:
93 of 100 Points.
"Jeff Leve, The Wine Cellar Insider" has rated the wine "Delas Freres Hermitage Les Bessards" from the vintage 2014 on 01.11.2019 with 93 of 100 points.
"Medium/full-bodied and relatively forward for a young Hermitage, the wine is smoky, floral and almost lush in its palate presence. The deep red fruits come along with spice, flowers, espresso and thyme. Give this another 7 years or so and it should be showing well."
yr. 2016 Wine Enthusiast:
94 of 100 Points.
"Wine Enthusiast" has rated the wine "Delas Freres Hermitage Les Bessards" from the vintage 2016 on 01.07.2019 with 94 of 100 points.
"While decadently fruit-forward for Hermitage, this rich, unctuous wine maintains the region's characteristic minerality and earthen complexities. Ripe black-cherry and plum flavors are warmed by spicy notes of anise and caramelized sugar along with fine, smooth tannins. It's a ripe, rather potent expression of Syrah but finessed enough to improve through 2030 and likely hold further. Anna Lee C. Iijima"
yr. 2015 Jeff Leve, The Wine Cellar Insider:
99 of 100 Points.
"Jeff Leve, The Wine Cellar Insider" has rated the wine "Delas Freres Hermitage Les Bessards" from the vintage 2015 on 01.02.2019 with 99 of 100 points.
"Almost opaque in color, the first thing you notice is the minerality, with all those crushed rocks and stones. From there you quickly move to salty, red berries, smoke, herbs and spice. Full bodied and rich, the wine fills your mouth, coating your palate layers of ripe, deep, black fruits and freshness that builds in intensity."
yr. 2016 Jeff Leve, The Wine Cellar Insider:
98 of 100 Points.
"Jeff Leve, The Wine Cellar Insider" has rated the wine "Delas Freres Hermitage Les Bessards" from the vintage 2016 on 01.02.2019 with 98 of 100 points.
"Inky, full bodied, deep, long and intense, the wine is meaty, fresh, powerful, tannic, full bodied, long, fresh and rich. The fruit is ripe, and so are the soft, polished, yet persistent tannins. This should age for decades."
yr. 2009 Jeff Leve, The Wine Cellar Insider:
99 of 100 Points.
"Jeff Leve, The Wine Cellar Insider" has rated the wine "Delas Freres Hermitage Les Bessards" from the vintage 2009 on 01.10.2018 with 99 of 100 points.
"Voluptuous, dense, full-bodied and deep, the wine is powerful and loaded with tannin to age for decades, but the tannins are so ripe and soft, the wine feels well defined. The dark red fruits taste , smell and feel great."
yr. 2010 Jeff Leve, The Wine Cellar Insider:
98 of 100 Points.
"Jeff Leve, The Wine Cellar Insider" has rated the wine "Delas Freres Hermitage Les Bessards" from the vintage 2010 on 01.10.2018 with 98 of 100 points.
"This just gets going and never quits. The wine is incredibly intense, perfectly balanced and the purity in the fruit coats your palate with layers of lush, powerful, ripe, mineral-driven, salty, deep, dark red fruits. The seamless finish stays with you for about 50 seconds. Wines this good can be enjoyed young, but the real fireworks should kick in between 2025 and 2030. It is going to be worth the wait."
yr. 2015 Wine Enthusiast:
96 of 100 Points.
"Wine Enthusiast" has rated the wine "Delas Freres Hermitage Les Bessards" from the vintage 2015 on 01.09.2018 with 96 of 100 points.
"There's a striking balance here calibrating bold, almost muscular ripeness against an invigorating granite edge. This wine is plump and full bodied, full of supple blackberry and plum flavors balanced by pert acidity and taut, penetrating tannins. It should be in peak from 2020-2035 but hold further. Anna Lee C. Iijima"
yr. 2003 Jeff Leve, The Wine Cellar Insider:
96 of 100 Points.
"Jeff Leve, The Wine Cellar Insider" has rated the wine "Delas Freres Hermitage Les Bessards" from the vintage 2003 on 01.10.2017 with 96 of 100 points.
"I really like how this is showing now. Good levels of concentration, lush, sweet, ripe, but not over ripe, dark red fruits, licorice, roasted meat, round tannins and length in the finish. The wine improved in the glass. No hard edges to the tannins in this wine, it's really quite supple."
yr. 1999 Jeff Leve, The Wine Cellar Insider:
96 of 100 Points.
"Jeff Leve, The Wine Cellar Insider" has rated the wine "Delas Freres Hermitage Les Bessards" from the vintage 1999 on 01.01.2016 with 96 of 100 points.
"A super wine that is just starting to deliver on its youthful promise. The silky texture, full body and concentration of ripe, sweet, pure fruits, coupled with complex, earthy aromatics really hits all the right spots."
yr. 1990 Jeff Leve, The Wine Cellar Insider:
93 of 100 Points.
"Jeff Leve, The Wine Cellar Insider" has rated the wine "Delas Freres Hermitage Les Bessards" from the vintage 1990 on 01.05.2015 with 93 of 100 points.
"Really nice wine, with its meaty, olive tapenade,, blackberry and earthy profile. Big, bold and concentrated, the wine has depth of flavor and complexity in the nose, leaving you with a big dose of fruit in the finish."
yr. 2007 Jeff Leve, The Wine Cellar Insider:
92 of 100 Points.
"Jeff Leve, The Wine Cellar Insider" has rated the wine "Delas Freres Hermitage Les Bessards" from the vintage 2007 on 01.02.2014 with 92 of 100 points.
"Medium/full bodied and very forward for this wine, the round, soft textured wine is filled with fresh black plums, cherries, licorice, earth and espresso. This is already fun to drink with 1-2 hours in the decanter."
yr. 1998 Jeff Leve, The Wine Cellar Insider:
93 of 100 Points.
"Jeff Leve, The Wine Cellar Insider" has rated the wine "Delas Freres Hermitage Les Bessards" from the vintage 1998 on 01.01.2014 with 93 of 100 points.
"With 90 minutes of air, the bottle was really singing with its fresh, mineral driven, cherry, licorice, smoke, stone and caramel nose. Full bodied with a lot of peppery, fresh red cherry filled charm. Still young, this is serving up a nice dose of pleasure. I liked it a lot. Time and air are only going to add more complexity and softness to the wine."
yr. 2005 Jeff Leve, The Wine Cellar Insider:
96 of 100 Points.
"Jeff Leve, The Wine Cellar Insider" has rated the wine "Delas Freres Hermitage Les Bessards" from the vintage 2005 on 01.05.2012 with 96 of 100 points.
"Still opaque in color, this intense wine opens with mineral, smoke, blackberry, boysenberry, earth and spice. This powerful, full bodied wine is packed with layers of ripe fruit and tannins that require at least 10 -15 more years to come around. Not much of this stunning Hermitage wine is made as the production hovers at close to 500 cases per year. Fortunately, for fans of the wine, prices remain reasonable for a Northern Rhone of this quality."
yr. 1997 Jeff Leve, The Wine Cellar Insider:
89 of 100 Points.
"Jeff Leve, The Wine Cellar Insider" has rated the wine "Delas Freres Hermitage Les Bessards" from the vintage 1997 on 01.05.2010 with 89 of 100 points.
"Initially tight when popped and poured, with coaxing, smoke, blackberry and peppery scents could be found. This full bodied wine ends with a red fruit finish coupled with hints of tart cherry, that detracted from the wine."
yr. 2007 Wine Enthusiast:
91 of 100 Points.
"Wine Enthusiast" has rated the wine "Delas Freres Hermitage Les Bessards" from the vintage 2007 on 01.01.2010 with 91 of 100 points.
"Leathery and woody is the first impression you'll get, but the palate excels with grippy warmth, a firm tannic structure and dark, plummy flavors that bring black olive, sous bois and sauvage flavors that are true to Rhône Syrah. Tasted by a three-person panel, the wine was unanimously well liked, with one reviewer finding it more hard and "clacky" than the others."
yr. 2005 Wine Enthusiast:
94 of 100 Points.
"Wine Enthusiast" has rated the wine "Delas Freres Hermitage Les Bessards" from the vintage 2005 on 01.01.2007 with 94 of 100 points.
"Delas's cuvée parcellaire is a rich wine that's almost syrupy in its concentration and tannic strength. But this definitely has plenty of fruit for balance, mixing cassis with black olive, espresso, cinnamon and clove. Not quite as rich as the '03, but still a classic, with great persistence on the finish. Best after 2015."
yr. 2001 Wine Enthusiast:
93 of 100 Points.
"Wine Enthusiast" has rated the wine "Delas Freres Hermitage Les Bessards" from the vintage 2001 on 01.01.2005 with 93 of 100 points.
"The Bessards vineyard is right at the heart of the Hermitage hill. Delas only makes this wine in top years (no 2002, for example), and the quality shows in the aromas of black fruits and violets, the flavors of huge, dense fruit and powerful tannins. This is serious wine, which promises at least 10 years of aging."
yr. 1999 Wine Enthusiast:
94 of 100 Points.
"Wine Enthusiast" has rated the wine "Delas Freres Hermitage Les Bessards" from the vintage 1999 on 01.01.2002 with 94 of 100 points.
"Old vines in the Les Bessards vineyard on the Hermitage hill have offered up a majestic wine that has considerable power. With its strong, firm tannins and intense, brooding dark fruits, this is a wine that has obviously been made to last. With little use of new wood for this wine (only, the structure and the complexity come entirely from the enormously ripe fruit and traditional fermentation."
